San Diego: Island resort Paradise Point hits half-century mark

Paradise Point Resort & Spa, the 44-acre island in Mission Bay in San Diego, was created by entrepreneur and movie producer Jack Skirball. It opened in 1962 under the name Vacation Village and charged just $8 a night.

The hotel will mark its 50th birthday Oct. 11 with some nice savings for guests who want to sample this vintage venue.

The deal: The resort, which sits on a man-made island, spent $20 million in 2009 renovating its 462 rooms. The grounds take full advantage of a landscaped island motif, with palm trees, lush gardens and lagoons. It also has some nice historic touches, including 20 of the original El Camino Real bells that marked the state’s iconic roadway in 1914. There’s also a water taxi that shuttles guests to nearby SeaWorld, and bonfire rings on the beach.

The resort features a “Countdown to Winter” offer that takes 25% off rooms for stays of two or more nights from now through winter. It’s a good way to lock in savings for an easy weekend getaway.

When: The offer is good through Oct. 15 for stays through February.

Tested: I found availability for two nights Oct. 19-21, Friday through Sunday, for a standard guestroom with two queen-sized beds for the discounted price of $169 a night plus tax and a daily resort fee of $17 (and parking costs $32 a night.) Best rate for the same room on the same nights is $225 plus tax and fees. Midweek rates for this deal are even lower.

Contact: Paradise Point & Spa, (800) 344-2626